Aerial navigation.



PA-TENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

H. BELLOWS. AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPI IUATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.PATENTED. FEB. 19, 190?.

H. M. BELLOWS. AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1906.

2 SKEETS-SHEET 2.

l I I II: J r a f r HORACE M. BELLOWS, OF

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

\ Application filed September 7, 1906. Serial 110.133 3382.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

I To (I'll whomit may concern:

ing the device.

Be it known that l, I'IORACE M. BELLOWS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntingdon Valley, in the county of Montgoniery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aerial Navigation, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in aerial navigation, and consists in providing a device for such purpose in form similar to a bird, as light as possible, with wings composed of blades or aeroplanes, which are placed parallel to each other at an angle to the air, that by the up and down movements imparted to said wings, making their parallel blades or aeroplanes impinge with force against the air at an angle downward and upward, forward motions are imparted to the device in the line of flight, and thus pro-' pulsion of. the latter is effected, similar to birds, who fly, as I have discovered, by the use ofthe primary feathers of their wings in this manner.

It also consists in providing the device with a tail or rudder, composed of blades or aeroplanes capable of being disposed at. an angle parallel to each other from the sides to the center, so as to steady the device, assist in its propulsion, and also serving to steer the same.

It also consists of meansfor rendering the device light in construction and presenting a large surface, so as to support the device after the manner. of a parachute, assist it in soaring, and also causing it to float in case of its descent upon bodies of water.

It also consists of novel means for operat in the wings of the device.

t also consists of novel means for operating the tail or rudder for steering and steady- It also consists o novel means for operating the tail to raise and lower the same, or to turn it to the right or left, so as to provide more or less resistance in order to regulate the rapidity of flight and controlling. the device.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a device for aerial navigation embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section on line a; as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section on line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of a portion on line 2 2, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 represents a partial side elevation and partial vertical section on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 represents a partial side, elevation and partial longitudinal vertical section of a Y portion on line a'a, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures. 2

Refcrring to the drawings, A designates the body of the device, the same having a beak or prow B in front thereof and wings C on the sides thereof, said wings being composed of the frames D, made of hollow aluminium pipes, filled with hydrogen gas, hermetically closed, saidframes being covered with duck or aluminium plates to make them as light and strong as possible, also transversely-extending aluminium blades or aeroplanes E.

The frame of the body A is made of large aluminium pipes B and A'fifllled with hydrogen gas and closed hermetically, covered above and below with ash or spruce boards and constituting means for occupation of machinery, storage, &c., and the large cylindrical body A Fig. 5, made of aluminium plates,.hard rolled, attached to lower floor, which'body is filled with hydrogen gas and hermetically closed for the purpose of lightness, while also adding buoyancy to the device should it descend into bodies of water.

The body A is preferably of the form of a parallelogram, and its top forms a floor of ash or spruce boards, on which is superimposed the motor F for operating the wings C, as will be hereinafter more fully described, also with ash or spruce boards below. strongly fastened to the upper floor and to which the aluminium cylinder A? is firmly attached.

G designates the tail of the device, the same consisting of the frame H and longitu dinally-extending blades or aeroplanes of aluminium J, said frame being pivotally connected by a ball and-socket joint K, whereby the tail maybe changed in variable directions, as required for steering. presenting more or less face to the wind, folding, &o., said frame and ball-joint to be composed of aluminium filled with hydrogen gas and hermetically closed. 7

The areoplanes E are adapted to have their angles changed by means of rods L, which are freely connected with the same and engaged by the levers Bl, the latter being pivoted on the frame of the wings t. The aer planesJ are adapted to have their angles changed by means of rods N, which are freely connected with the same and engaged by levers P, the latter being mounted on the frame of the tail ll at Z. The handle ends of" said levers i\l l are within convenient reach from the body A, or they may be'operated by electricity from the neighborhood of the steering wheel or engine.

In order to impart rising and lowering motions to the wings, I employ the double crankshaft. Q, to which rotary motion is imparted by means of the engine or motorl the cranks of said shaft having mounted thereon the oppt sitely-extending links it, with which latter are pivotally connected the slides S, to t whoseoutcr ends are pivotally' connected the toggle-levers T, which are mounted on the bolts or axes U of the hinges of the wings the outerlimbs ofsaid levers having connected with them the elbows or arms Y, the latter being rigidly secured tothe frame ofthe wings (7, 1 it being evident that when power is commw nicated to the shaft Q motion is imparted to the links R, slides S, togglelevers T, and arms Y, whereby the wings are operated upwardly and downwardly, thus causing forcible traction of the blades or aeroplanes E against the air. as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to cause the device when descendl ing to alight easily and prevent shocks thereto, the body A is provided with the legs \V, each formed of members VY W telescopically fitted to each other, the movable members contacting with springs X as cushions or buffers, the effect of which is evident.

In order to raise and lower the tail, which, as has been stated, is connected with the body A by the ball-and-socketjoint K, there are attached to the upper and lower sides of the frame of the tail the cords or chains Y, which extend forwardly fromthe same and pass around the pulley Y,with whose shaft Y is connected the worm-wheel Y, with which enthe worm Y on the shaft Y, thislatter being geared with the shaft Y, which is provided with the hand-wheel'Yl said shafts being properly mounted on the body A, the latter being chambered, as at A, to receive certain members of the mechanism, just. described, it being evident that when the wheel Y is turned the motion thereof is communicated to the frame of the. tail, and thus the'latter may be raised or lowered, thus presenting more or less surface to the air for steadying and regulating or adjusting the swiftness of the flight of the device.

in order to steer the device, l employ the ropes or chains Z, which are connected with the tail of the device and passed around the i sprocket-wheel Z, whose shaft Z carries the sprocket-wheel Z around which passes the rope or chain Z which also passes around I the s n'ocld-twvheel Z on the shaft Z", the

latter being tubular and freely containing the shaft X and being provided with the handwheel Z said shafts Z Z being properly mounted on the body A and certain of the connected mechanism occupying the chaniher A, it. being evident that when the'wvheel' /i' is turned the motion is communicated to the tail either right or left, thus effecting the steering of the device, as is. evident.

Attention is especially directed to the blades or aeroplanes of the wings, which at time of llight occupy a position at an angle or obliquely and parallel to each other, whereby they present. inclined planes to the air both in the longitudinal and horizontal directions, and thus when the wings are operated said planes receive upward and downi ward motions, impinging against the airwith force at an angle, which induces motion in a direction between the two at a tangent or in a direction to the line-of flight, and this is communicated to the body of the device, thus propelling the latter, the body, as is evidenT, being steadied at the same time bythe tail and its aeroplanes, arranged at parallel an gles to the right and left, said tail being adapted to be adjusted in vertical and right and left directions, as has been stated. Again,

all the blades or aeroplanes of the device are composed of aluminium plates stiffened lengthwise with a mid-rib composed of an aluminium tube 'l'illefd with hydrogen gas and hermetically closed.

The central is stationary, the movable blades or aeroplanes J being on the sides of the same and capable of being placed parallel at an angle, thus serving to steady or balance the machine.

The base of the movable members of the le 's \V are )rovided with feet W on which the device may stand, said members having heads acting as pistons, which occupy the interior of the stationary members of the legs and. bear against the springs X or the aircushion'in said stationary members, thus permitting the device to alight without abruptness and assisting it in its ascent when the latter is againoccasioned.

In Fig. 5, attached to the beak of the body is the form of the head of a bird, which is made by-an extension of the aluminium plates of the body, the effect of which is not materially different from the angular beak shown in Fig. l, and is pointed so as to cleave the air in front, and thus impede its movements 1 as little as possible.

blade or plane N ofthe tail H.

-and closed hermetically to render the same light to assist in increasing the buoyancy of Attention is also directed to the fact that the aeroplanes when placed at an angle to the air receive motion and impinge upon the air with forcible resistance in a direction that will produce motion at a tangent thereto, thus accomplishing flight, it being a wellknown fact that force applied at an angle through a liquid or gaseous medium produces motion at a tangent to the force and resistance or in opposite directions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Mechanism for flight simulating that of birds embodying wings with blades thereon, the latter being adapted to be operatiycly open to each other at angles to the air, and to be forcedagainst the same in said position, producing motion in the direction of desired flight.

2. Mechanism for flight simulating that of' birds, embodying a. guiding-tail, with side and central blades thereon, the side blades being adapted to be'operativelyopen to each other at angles to the air in each directionto the right and left from the central blade.

3. Mechanism for flight simulating that of birds, embodying wings with'blades thereon, said blades being adapted to be operatively open to each other at angles to the air and to be .forced against the same in said position producing motion in the direction of desired -flight and a guiding-tail with side and central blades, the side blades ada ted to be operatively. open at angles in "eac 1 direction to the right and left from the central blade.

4. In aerial navigation, blades or aeroplanes capable of being disposed parallel at angles to the air with'which they are caused to lmpinge at the time of flight.

5. In aerial-navigation, a device provided.

with movable wings having aeroplanes WhlCl). are disposed at parallel angles to the air, at

the time of flight and thus produce mot-ion ing of a crankshaft, amotor therefor, slides,

connections between the slides and the crankshaft, and toggle-levers connecting the slides with'the pivots of the wings. i

8. In aerial navigation, a body, wings and a tail thereon and aeroplanes on said tail, said planes capable of being disposed at parallel angles to' the air each way.

9. In aerial navigation, a body, a tail thereon, aeroplanes on said tail, said planes being disposed at parallel angles to the air .and means for adjusting said angles.

10. In aerial navigation, a body, a tail thereon and having aeroplanes, means for changingthe angles of said aeroplanes and means for raising and lowering said tail to present more or less resistance to the air.

11. In aerial navigation, a body, a tail thereon having aeroplanes adapted to be op eratively open to each other at angles to the air in each direction tothe right and left from the center, a movable joint connecting said tail and body, and means connected with said tail whereby it may be raised and lowered and moved laterally.

12. In aerial navigation, a body, a mov able tail thereon having aeroplanes adapted to be operatively open to each other at angles to the air in each direction to the right and left from the center, connections with said tail to turn it to the right or left, or to raise and lower the same, and means for operatin said connections. i

1 3. n aerial navigation, a body, aeroplanes thereon, a movable tail, aeroplanes thereon adapted to be operatively open to eachother at angles to the air in each direction to the right and leftfrom the center and steering mechanism, for said tail, consisting of gearing, means for operating the same up and it down or to the right or left, and connections for said gearin and tail.

14. In aeriad navigation, a body, wings thereon, aeroplanes. mounted on said wings capable of being placed at parallel angles, and frames carrying said members, said members beingformed inpart of hollow bodies filled with some suitable gas and hermetically closed, made as light as possible.

15. In aerial navigation, a body, wings thereon, aeroplanes mounted on said wings, a tail and aeroplanes mounted thereon and adapted tobe operatively open to each other at angles to the air in each direction to the right and left from the center and frames carrying said members, bein formed in part of hollow bodies hermetica ly closed, and some suitable gas contained in said bodies, adding buoyancy to the device for purposes of flotation and lightness.

16. In aerial navigation, a body, wings with aeroplanes thereon, adapted to be operatively open to each other at angles to the air and-to be forced against the same in said position, producing motion in the direction of the desired flight, a movable tail thereon, also furnished with aeroplanes made of light material and adjusting mechanism so that 1 structed with parallel aeroplanes at an angle to the air which when in motion are adapted to impinge upon the air With'forcible resistance thereof inthe direction that Will produce motion at a tangent thereto, thus ace0ni-.

plishing flight. I

' HORACE M. BELLOWS.

Witnesses: I

' JOHN A.W1EDERSHEIM,

WM. CANER WIEDERSHEIM. 

